The establishment of the Special Commission dedicated to the issue of collective management of copyright and related rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo marks a crucial step in resolving the dysfunctions that have long hampered the recognition and fair remuneration of creators. The official launch of this commission, chaired by Mrs. Yolande Elebe Ma Ndembo, Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, took place on Wednesday, December 18 in Kinshasa, at the new Cultural and Artistic Center for Central African Countries.
This initiative comes in a context where tensions and disagreements between copyright management structures persist, thus depriving many artists and authors of legitimate income from their intellectual work. Mrs. Yolande Elebe Ma Ndembo stressed in her opening speech that the main objective of this commission is to establish a clear and lasting framework to guarantee the protection of copyright and related rights in the DRC.
Actors involved in copyright management, such as Nyoka Longo, Blaise Bula, Franck Dikisongele, as well as representatives of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), gathered to participate in this crucial event. The Minister recalled the efforts undertaken since her appointment as head of the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, in particular the organization of work on the reform of Ordinance-Law No. 86-033 of April 5, 1986.
The Special Commission’s main mission is to identify the root causes of the current crisis, formulate concrete recommendations and propose sustainable solutions for effective, transparent and equitable collective management. The Minister insisted on the collective responsibility of the members of the Commission and the importance of placing the general interest at the center of the work, emphasizing the need to restore trust between stakeholders.
The results of this commission are eagerly awaited, in the hope of seeing concrete and lasting solutions emerge to resolve the problem of copyright and related rights in the DRC. By committing to protect and guarantee the rights of artists and creators of intellectual works, the Government of the Republic demonstrates its commitment to social justice and peace, essential values for the development of Congolese society.
In conclusion, the establishment of this Special Commission represents an important step towards fairer and more effective management of copyright and related rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while giving Congolese culture the place it deserves on the national and international scene.